Joan Elaine (Nelson) Mahnken, age 84 of Ogallala, NE passed away, Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at Ogallala Community Hospital in Ogallala, NE.
Joan was called Jo and she always had fun telling everyone she didn’t care what she was called; “Jo, Joanne, or whatever” as she would say.
Joan was born in Lewellen, NE to Walter and Dorothy (Evans) Nelson Garner on September 13, 1940, and was very proud that she was born on Friday the 13th. In 1942 the family moved to Otis, CO where she attended school until 1955 then moved to Ogallala, NE with her mother and two brothers and attended Ogallala School. As a teenager she worked as a car hop at Tastee Snack.
Joan was baptized on April 6, 1941, and Confirmed on April 11, 1954, at the Presbyterian church in Otis, CO. She then joined St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ogallala, NE on December 28, 1961 and later transferred to Trinity Lutheran Church South of Ogallala.
On October 1, 1961, Joan married Walter Mahnken at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ogallala, NE.
In the early 1960s, she worked as a maid at the new Holiday Inn. She was a housewife, a cook, and lunch counter manager at Variety Center for Jon and Pat Davis from 1974 to 1998 where she received the Employee of the Month Award. She also worked at Sixth Street and Sun Mart off and on for 10 years and worked at A&W from 1998-2006. She lived on the farm until 1993 when she moved into Ogallala and was still active on the farm until 2023.
Joan was a Volunteer at the Senior Center and other places, she enjoyed all the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League events being an officer in local, Zone, and District, and attended District and National conventions which she thoroughly enjoyed, and loved attending Church. She had also been a member of the K&P Extension Club, and Blue Bells 4-H club leader.
She enjoyed playing cards, reading, and using her computer - that was her fun time.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Walter; her brother Martin Nelson and her grandparents.
Joan is survived by the family she loved so much; her two daughters Dianne Elaine (Les) Peterson and Sheila Marie Mahnken both of Ogallala, NE.; one brother Bill (Phyllis) Nelson of Lincoln, NE; Grandchildren Leslie Deanne Peterson of Sitka, Alaska, Robert Alan (Marta) Peterson of Hastings, NE, and Joshua Alan Shallow of Iowa. Great- Grandchildren Rory Marie Peterson, Blake Le Ann Peterson, and Alexis Shallow; several nieces and nephews, Rebecca (Dan) Padilla, Vicki Lierhammer, Greg (Laura) Nelson, Eric (Gina) Nelson, Sean (Ashley) Nelson, and great nephews and nieces, and many more family and friends which she enjoyed.
Visitation will be held Friday, September 27, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 5:00 P.M at Draucker Funeral Home Chapel of Ogallala.
Funeral Services will be on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 2:00 P.M. at Trinity Lutheran Church with Reverend Jon Dickmander officiating.
Internment will be in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.
A memorial has been established in her memory.
Condolences may be left by going to www.drauckerfh.com.
Services will be live-streamed at www.drauckerfh.com, click the live stream button.
Draucker Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.